Where do dandelions grow? Common dandelion: description. Dandelion officinalis - useful properties, use in traditional medicine, contraindications

Dandelion is an herbal perennial, reaching a height of no more than half a meter and belonging to the Compositae family.
Its root is vertical, branched, about 0.6 m long, thickened up to 2 cm in diameter. The color of the surface is brown, and white inside.

Dandelion leaves are bare, pinnately dissected, oblong-toothed, and also whole, which, in turn, are collected in a basal rosette.

The dandelion has a cylindrical arrow-peduncle, the core of which is hollow, and the walls are juicy. The end of the peduncle is a 20-50 mm single rounded basket. The flowers are rich yellow, reed, collected in inflorescences.

The fruit of the dandelion are pubescent seeds that scatter on a kind of umbrellas from the slightest breath of wind. Dandelion contains a thick milky juice that is found in every part of it.
This plant has a flowering period in the second half of spring - April-May. And fruiting is quite long, from early summer to mid-autumn.

Spreading

Dandelion grows in subtropical, temperate and cold zones. Mountainous areas in Eurasia are most chosen by this grass. On the territory of Russia, it is found everywhere, especially in the European part of the country, as well as in Siberia and Central Asia, in the Caucasus and the Far East.

Also, this plant can be found in the tundra zone, but the dandelion forest did not pass by. With incredible persistence, they grow in vegetable gardens, on roadsides, fields, meadows and lawns.

Collection and preparation

Harvesting dandelion roots for the future is done in autumn or spring. Large roots are cleaned from the ground and small branches of roots are separated from them, then washed thoroughly. Cut into pieces of 10 cm and dried until the milk disappears.

Drying should be done indoors in a draft or in special dryers. Store medicinal raw materials in canvas bags, paper bags or in wooden or cardboard boxes. Shelf life of dry roots proper storage may be up to 5 years.

Composition

Dandelion officinalis has uses due to the beneficial substances that has a curative effect. Most popular as medicine the root of this herb, because its composition is rich in components such as:

• Polysaccharide (<20%)
• Inulin (<40%)
• Glycoside - taraxacin (<15%)
• Rubber (≈2.5%)
• Malic acid (≈0.25%)
• organic acids
• Protein substances
• Carotene
• mineral salts
• fatty oil
• Bitterness
• Slime
• Tannins
• resins
• Vitamin C
• B vitamins
• Sterols

But dandelion has no less useful leaves, the content of micro and macro elements in which is also worthy of attention, which is why they are also effectively used as a medicine.

The leaves have the following components:

• Retinol
• Ascorbic acid
• Asparagine
• Tocopherol
• Riboflavin
• Rutin
• Choline
• Protein (<5%)
• Minerals: Fe, P, K, Ca, Cu, Mo, Ni, Ti, B, Mn

Application

Dandelion is used in various fields of medicine. Its roots and grass are used as bitterness to increase the secretion of gastric juice, and, accordingly, stimulate digestion and stimulate appetite. In addition, a decoction of the roots relieves spasms, cramps and colic.

Dandelion is also indispensable in dermatology, because many skin lesions are cured through the roots. Dandelion officinalis can help to remove stones from the gallbladder and kidneys. Dandelion also helps in losing weight due to the fact that its components perfectly "break" cellulite and obesity.

This plant is used in the treatment of many diseases, because it is known that the properties of dandelion have a very wide range:

• Antiviral
• Anti-tuberculosis
• Diuretic
• Choleretic
• Antispasmodic
• antiseptic
• Vitamin
• expectorant
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antitoxic
• Normalizing pressure
• Anthelmintic
• Wound healing
• Antiradiation
• Laxative
• lactation
• Sedative (sleeping pill)

Dandelion officinalis is used for gastric cataracts, and this plant can significantly speed up the treatment of liver and kidney diseases.

Along with this, dandelion perfectly copes with inflammatory diseases and such an ailment as atherosclerosis.

With such a common misfortune today as anorexia, dandelion will also help, because the bitterness contained in it is an excellent appetite stimulant.

It is possible to use this herbaceous plant as a medicine for poisoning and intoxication, as well as for the following diseases:

• Cholecystitis
• Edema
• potassium deficiency
• Cirrhosis of the liver
• Gastritis with low acidity
• Joint diseases

Thanks to its healing components, dandelion officinalis is a wonderful drug for the treatment of diabetes. After all, this plant is able to stimulate the production of insulin.

Due to its urinary and choleretic effect, dandelion helps to get rid of stones in the kidneys, gall bladder and bladder. As an additional remedy, it can participate in the treatment of anemia and anemia.

With antitoxic properties, dandelion has a stimulating effect on the cardiovascular system. In addition, this plant is very useful in the treatment of arthritis.

Dandelion is also used for such skin manifestations as:

• Acne
• Warts
• Eczema
• Dermatitis
• Furunculosis

Another extremely important property that dandelion has is the ability to block the bites of poisonous insects. And for nursing mothers, dandelion will help increase milk production.
Dandelion has such a variety of medicinal properties that it makes this plant very popular in medicine.

Juice, which contains dandelion, belongs to the list of the most healing agents, with a tonic and firming effect, because this milk juice has such qualities as:

• Normalization of hyperacidity
• Normalization of alkaline balance in the body
• Help in treatment: spine and bones
• Teeth strengthening
• Treatment of periodontal disease

Among other things, dandelion is also used for cosmetic purposes to get rid of age spots and freckles.

Folk recipes

1. After severe hypothermia, as well as at the first sign of a cold and flu, you must take 40 grams of dandelion tincture twice a day, which is done as follows. The whole dandelion must be filled with vodka and infused for 3 weeks in a dark place, then the plant should be squeezed out and the resulting tincture should be taken according to the dosage.

2. With no appetite you should drink a glass of dandelion root infusion in 4 doses throughout the day, which should be prepared according to the following recipe. Two tsp dry raw materials from the dandelion root, pour 250 ml of cooled boiled water. Infuse the composition should be within 8 hours, then strain and can be taken.

3. With beriberi and anemia dandelion will come to the rescue again. Grind the roots and leaves, take 1 tsp. obtained raw materials and pour a glass of boiling water and soak for an hour in a thermos. Then the infusion must be filtered and drunk 80 ml three times a day, half an hour before meals.

4. Improve metabolism, and also help to cope with blood diseases infusion prepared according to the following recipe: 1 tbsp. dandelion roots should be added to a glass of freshly boiled water and insisted in a thermos for two hours. After that, the infusion should be filtered and taken half an hour before meals, 60 ml four times a day.

5. For constipation Dandelion officinalis will help again. As an effective laxative, you will need powder from dried dandelion roots (you can grind them with a coffee grinder). Take half a teaspoon three times a day.

6. With an insect bite fresh dandelion will do just fine. At the bite site, you need to apply a compress from a dandelion leaf, ground into gruel. Keep the compress for about two hours.

7. Dandelion juice is capable reduce warts. It is necessary to regularly rub the affected area with plant milk.

8. For the treatment of periodontal disease dandelion juice with carrot and turnip juice will help. Dandelion juice can be prepared as follows. Before making juice, dandelion should be soaked in salted cool water for half an hour. Further, the whole plant should be crushed strongly and extracted in a small amount of water. This drug should be taken every day for several weeks, a quarter cup.

9. For the treatment of diabetes you need to prepare an infusion: dandelion - leaves, nettle, walnut, chicory. To do this, you need to take all these ingredients in equal proportions, grind, mix them and pour one tablespoon of this mixture into 450 ml of water.

Then you need to put the dishes with the mixture diluted in water on the stove, bring to a boil, hold for another 2 minutes and remove from heat. Leave the herbs in boiling water for 10 minutes, then strain and take 3 tbsp. 15 minutes before eating three times a day.

10. Skin problems can be solved with an infusion of dandelion herb root. With the help of this infusion, diseases such as furunculosis, rash, acne, and so on can be cured. To do this, you need to take a tablespoon of dry raw materials from the root and cook for 10 minutes in 250 ml of water. Then you need to let the decoction stand for an hour, strain and consume the entire decoction per day in three divided doses, 20 minutes before meals.

11. For gastritis and hepatitis, as well as constipation and colitis, a decoction prepared according to the following technology will be a salvation: one spoon of dandelion root is boiled over low heat for 15 minutes in half a liter of water, then leave for a couple of hours, strain and drink 125 ml three times a day root decoction.

12. Overcome insomnia, vitamin deficiency and neurosis dandelion is capable, or rather dandelion juice, which should be consumed twice a day in a volume of 50 ml half an hour before meals for a crescent.

13. Great way to deal with allergies- This is an infusion of dandelion roots and wild rose, taken in equal proportions. A mixture of ingredients in the amount of one tablespoon is brewed in a thermos with one glass of boiling water and aged all night. After straining, you can start taking the medicine at a dosage: 1/3 of a glass before meals three times a day. The duration of the course of treatment is 2 months.

14. The juice of crushed dandelion flowers, mixed one to one with sugar and aged for 10 days in the refrigerator, is an excellent medicine. from rheumatism. Take this syrup before meals, one tablespoon.

Contraindications

Despite all the advantages of dandelion, this plant has some contraindications, namely:

• stomach ulcer
• Duodenal ulcer
• Gastritis hyperacid
• Diarrhea
• Increased acidity of the stomach

Program content:

Continue to acquaint children with representatives of the plant world of their native land.
Expand and clarify knowledge about dandelion.
Learn to choose figurative words.
To acquaint children with the concept of "medicinal plant".
Develop auditory perception.
Cultivate an emotional response to the beauty of a flower, describing it in poetic form.
To promote the development of respect for wildlife.

Equipment:

Pictures with the image of a dandelion.
Yellow cardboard circles depicting the sun (3 pcs).
Ball-shaped pieces of cotton wool and a model of a dandelion made of green paper and yellow napkins.
Yellow gouache, green-tinted sheets of paper, drawing equipment.

Preliminary work:

1. Observation of dandelions.
2. Learning the poem by E. Serova "Dandelion".

wears a dandelion
Yellow sundress.
Grow up - dress up
In a white dress
light, airy,
Obedient to the wind.

Dandelion

Dandelion structure

Dandelions

Lesson progress:

Spring has finally come into its own, and no matter how angry the winter is, its time is over. Spring is often called the blooming season. Why do you think?

Guess the riddle:

Dandelion Riddle

Burned in the dewy grass
The flower is golden.
Then faded, faded
And turned into fluff.

This is a dandelion. What words in the riddle gave you the correct answer?
Dandelion is one of the first to appear in spring, like a yellow sun in young green grass.

Didactic exercise "Listen carefully"

Children are encouraged to listen carefully and clap their hands if they hear the word "dandelion".
Dandelion, sofa, trailer, dandelion, drum, dandelion, boy, dandelion.

Dandelion is a wild flower, because no one takes care of it.

Dandelion grows almost everywhere:
On your high leg
Rising to the top
It grows on the path
Both in the hollow and in the grass.

Psychogymnastics "Dandelions"

(conducted to music)

Imagine that you are little dandelions. The warm rays of the sun warmed the earth. You are small sprouts, very weak, fragile, defenseless. But now the spring sun has warmed, and small sprouts begin to grow rapidly. Your leaves have grown, the stem has become strong, you are drawn to the light, to the sun. How good! A small bud appeared on the stem. It grows, swells, and finally unfurls its petals. At first, the petals seem a little wrinkled, but then they straightened up, and everyone around saw a fluffy yellow flower that looked like the sun. We have seen dandelions with you many times, and now consider this flower in the picture. On it, the dandelion is depicted large, large, so we can better examine it. (Show picture).

What is the name of this flower? What are the parts of this plant? Show where he has leaves, stem, flower, roots. What color are its leaves and stem? Flower? Where does the flower grow? So what is it called?

In the morning on a sunny meadow without a clock, you can find out the time. At 5-6 o'clock the sun rises and the dandelions open. By evening, the yellow lights go out and close. The dandelion loves the sun so much that it does not take its eyes off it - it turns its flower head after it.

Gymnastics for the eyes "Sun and dandelion"

The sun will rise in the east in the morning - the dandelion looks to the east.
(Children look at the yellow circles - the "sun" in accordance with the text).

At noon, the sun will rise high, high - the dandelion will raise its head up.
By evening, the sun will begin to decline towards sunset - and the dandelion lowers its gaze after it and closes its flower.

What can a dandelion be compared to?

Didactic exercise "Choose a word"

Yellow like the sun.
Round like...
Soft like...
White like...
Fluffy like...
Fragile as...
What an amazing flower!

But dandelions are not always yellow, like the sun. Time passes, and yellow petals are replaced by white fluffs.

golden and young
Became gray within a week.
And two days later
Bald head.

White fluffs are seeds. The wind is blowing, the seeds are scattered far, far in different directions. They fall to the ground and grow. New flowers appear.

Breathing exercise "Blow on a dandelion"

On a bright sunny day
Golden blossomed flower.
Light breeze blowing -
Our flower swayed.
A strong wind is blowing -
Petals care.

Children blow on dandelion petals with different strengths and observe the intensity of the movement of the petals.

Fluffy white ball
Showed off in a clean field.
Blow on it a little
There was a flower - and there is no flower.

Then they blow on the “dandelion” cotton wool, without puffing out the cheeks.

Dandelion is a medicinal plant. A medicinal plant is a plant that is used in medicine for treatment. Dandelion leaves and roots are used to treat coughs and improve appetite.

And people make delicious jam from dandelion flowers.
And not only people use dandelions. Bees, bumblebees and butterflies love to fly to dandelions. They eat dandelion sweet nectar. And the bees then make dandelion honey out of it - thick and fragrant.

Fizminutka "Dandelion"

Dandelion, dandelion!
(squat, then slowly rise)

The stem is thin, like a finger.
If the wind is fast, fast
(They run in different directions)

Will fly into the meadow,
Everything around will rustle.
(They say "shhhhhhhhhhh")

dandelion stamens
Scatter in a round dance
(Hold hands and walk in a circle)

And merge with the sky.

On green grass, yellow dandelions are very beautiful. Although there are a lot of them, you should not pluck them. Dandelions will not stand in a vase, they will immediately wilt. A wreath of dandelions will quickly lose its beauty. This is described in the poem "Flower". Listen:

Flower

flower in the meadow
I broke on the run.
Tore off,
What for -
I can't explain.
In glass
He stood for a day and wilted.
And how long would he stand in the meadow.
(V. Viktorov)

Let's not pick dandelions and keep the beauty. And the bees will thank us for saving flowers for them.

And now I suggest you draw dandelions on these green lawns (tinted sheets of paper). But before we start drawing, let's prepare our fingers.

Finger gymnastics "Flower"

Dandelion grew in the meadow
(Join hands, depicting a "bud")

Opened the petals on a spring morning.
(Open hands, unclench fingers)

All petals beauty and nutrition
(To the rhythm of the words, spread and connect fingers)

Together they give roots underground!
(Connect hands with back sides, move fingers - “roots”)

Evening. Yellow flowers cover the petals.
(tightly squeeze intertwined fingers)

They fall asleep quietly, lower their heads.
(put hands on knees)

Drawing "Dandelions in the meadow"

Children draw with yellow gouache on tinted (green) sheets of paper.
After finishing work, the drawings are laid out next to each other on the floor - “dandelion meadow”.

The colors suddenly became flowers,
Light up all around!
In a new yellow sundress
Dandelion meadow.

Dandelion- perennial herbaceous plant of the family Asteraceae or Compositae. well known dandelion officinalis with a rosette of basal leaves and bright yellow flowers.

Dandelion Description

Plant height from 10 to 30 cm. The root is strong, vertically located, white in section. The leaves are dissected in shape, form a basal rosette. The flowers are yellow, collected in rosettes. The main flowering is in April-May, it can bloom until autumn. The fruits consist of an achene with a tuft, ripen in June-July.

dandelion spread

Dandelion officinalis grows throughout our country - in the fields, gardens, lawns. Often considered a weed. Appears as soon as the snow melts.

Medicinal properties of dandelion

Actually dandelion officinalis- a very useful plant, treats many ailments. Its medicinal properties have been known for a long time, and were used in Rus' by all healers. Dandelion leaves contain choline, various trace elements and beneficial bitterness, as well as other substances necessary for health. All parts of the plant that are harvested for future use are useful. The aerial part is dried in the shade in the air, or in well-ventilated areas. Roots are harvested in spring or autumn. To do this, they are dug up, cleaned from the ground, washed and dried.

Dandelion officinalis used to improve digestion, as a means of stimulating appetite and giving strength, with diabetes, beriberi. Its use is considered an excellent tool for the prevention of atherosclerosis. They treat anemia, heart, kidneys, intestines, metabolic disorders. Traditional medicine claims the antitumor properties of dandelion officinalis. And in China, it has long been used as a strong antioxidant. The biologically active substances contained in it also have an expectorant, laxative, sedative, antipyretic and antispasmodic effect.

Dandelion juice restores liver cells, normalizes its work. It is used for cholecystitis and poisoning. Restores the formation of bile. Treats eczema and furunculosis. Sometimes dandelion juice mixed with carrot juice.

Juice can be prepared in several ways:

1 way - in May or June, dig up the plant along with the roots. Rinse, hold in slightly salty water for about half an hour, squeeze out all the water, dry and squeeze the juice. Mix with sugar 1:1 and add vodka 1/10 part. After 2 weeks the juice is ready. Keep refrigerated.

Method 2 - all the same, only without the addition of sugar and vodka. The squeezed juice is diluted with a little water. Take with honey for 2-3 months, ¼ cup before meals.

Method 3 - finely chop the washed leaves, blanch for 1 minute, then drain the water. Pass through a meat grinder and squeeze through a double layer of gauze. Dilute the resulting mixture with water in a ratio of 1:1. Boil for 1-2 minutes.

dandelion roots is an excellent natural diuretic. They are used to cleanse the kidneys. Infusions help with arthritis - pain decreases, the process of joint deformation stops. Due to its rich composition, dandelion decoctions regulate metabolism and help with weight loss.

Contraindication are conditions with obstruction of the biliary tract, gastritis and ulcers.

Application of dandelion

To improve metabolism: 1 tablespoon of crushed leaves pour 1 cup of boiling water. Insist 1-2 hours. Then strain and take 1/3 cup 3 times a day 15-30 minutes before meals.

For constipation: Grind the roots well in a coffee grinder. Take 3 times a day for ½ teaspoon half an hour before meals.

For diabetes: leaves are used in the treatment of type II diabetes as part of herbal preparations recommended by a doctor.

Root infusion can be done as follows: pour 1 tablespoon of chopped root into a thermos, then pour a glass of boiling water. Insist for several hours, preferably at night. Strain and take 1/3 cup 3 times a day before meals.

In cooking all parts of dandelion are used by nutritionists as a low-calorie food. The roots of the plant are baked in the oven, then ground and drunk instead of coffee. If you add a little chicory, ginger or cinnamon, you get a fragrant drink.

Very useful as a source of vitamins salad of young leaves and flowers. In order to get rid of excessive bitterness, they are pre-soaked in a saline solution. In Europe, a variety of lettuce dandelion without bitterness has already been bred. Also used as a seasoning for meat.

Dandelion flowers are pickled and added to salads as a garnish.

Dandelion Salad Recipe:

Pour 100 g of fresh leaves with salted water and leave for 15 minutes. Drain the water and chop finely. Add 1 tablespoon sour cream and 1 tablespoon mayonnaise. Salt to taste. If desired, sour cream and mayonnaise can be replaced with vegetable oil and sprinkled with lemon juice.

To surprise your guests for the New Year, it's time to think about it during the flowering of dandelions and make wine (another name is whiskey). , reminiscent of the taste of Scotch whiskey, will mature in six months, just in time for the winter holidays.

If you want to stay young and healthy longer, pay attention to a small simple flower by the road. In addition to numerous useful trace elements, it contains silicon, the lack of which affects the aging of the body. So the name "elixir of youth" dandelion was not in vain.

In folk cosmetics a mask of fresh leaves is used, which moisturizes, nourishes and rejuvenates the skin of the face. Freckles and age spots are well whitened with an infusion of flowers.

Dandelion juice will help get rid of small warts. And an insect bite will heal a freshly crushed leaf.

Dandelion- an excellent honey plant. Honey from it is obtained with a strong aroma and a slightly bitter taste.

DANDELION, a, husband. Herbaceous plant. Compositae with yellow flowers and seeds on fluffy hairs carried by the wind. God's dandelion (colloquial joke; ironic) about a quiet and weak, usually old person. Old lady dandelion. | adj… … Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov

Modern Encyclopedia

A genus of perennial herbaceous plants of the Compositae family. St. 1000 species, in cold and temperate zones, mainly in the mountainous regions of Eurasia. Dandelion officinalis is widespread (grows along roads, near housing, clogs lawns, ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Taraxacum), a genus of perennial plants of the family. Compositae. All vegetative parts of the plant contain milky sap. O. is characterized by the presence of a large number of apomictic. species that often differ only slightly in features. It is believed that in the genus ca. 70... Biological encyclopedic dictionary

Kok saghyz, milkman Dictionary of Russian synonyms. dandelion n., number of synonyms: 16 blond (7) ... Synonym dictionary

- (Paraxacum Hall.) a genus of plants from the family. Compositae (Compositae), division Cichoriaceae. Up to six species of this genus are known, growing in northern temperate climates. These are herbaceous plants, with basal leaves and with a leafless flower arrow; ... ... Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron

Dandelion- DANDELION, a genus of perennial herbs (Asteraceae family). Over 1000 species, in cold and temperate zones. Dandelion officinalis grows along roads, near housing, clogs lawns, gardens, kitchen gardens, etc. A decoction of its roots stimulates the appetite, ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

DANDELION, dandelion, husband. Compositae plant with yellow flowers, milky stems and fluffy seeds that are dispersed by the wind. Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov

dandelion- white (Balmont); fluffy (Pozharova); yellow (Ertel); reverently through (Pozharova); bright yellow (Ertel) Epithets of literary Russian speech. M: The supplier of the court of His Majesty, the partnership of the printing press A. A. Levenson. A. L. Zelenetsky. 1913 ... Dictionary of epithets

DANDELION- DANDELION, Taraxacum officmale Wigg. (l other ^ varieties), perennial herbaceous plant of the family. Compositae, growing throughout the northern hemisphere. Mentioned by Theophrastus and Arabic medical literature. In medicine… … Big Medical Encyclopedia

Books

• Dandelion, Olga Alekseeva. Tyomka is a city boy who, at the behest of his very kind, cheerful, but demanding parents, ends up in the countryside. He is an ordinary boy with typical for his age ...

Every spring, in April-May, depending on climatic conditions, bright yellow flowers delight the eye, filling all meadows, clearings, urban and suburban green areas, parks, gardens. In just a few days, whole fields of dandelions appear around us. They look very nice - juicy, bright green and yellow colors give an unusual fresh combination and good mood. But these plants cannot be collected in a bouquet, as they fade very quickly. Although bright flowers often attract the attention of kids who are happy to collect them. It is on dandelion flowers that girls learn to weave wreaths.

Description

What kind of amazing plant is the dandelion? This is a perennial. It belongs to or Compositae. There are a lot of dandelions in the world, and they are diverse.

In total, more than 1000 species grow in the world. Some of them are very few and are listed in the Red Book, as they are threatened with extinction.

Where does the flower grow?

In the European part, the common dandelion mainly grows, which, unlike the others, is widespread. This species in Russia alone has about a hundred varieties. Places where dandelions grow can be found almost all over the planet. Due to their unpretentiousness, they grow both in moderately cold climatic conditions and in subtropical ones. That is why they are on different hemispheres of the earth. But there are especially many such flowers in the Eurasian part of the planet. It is here that you can see entire fields of dandelions.

In Russia and the CIS countries, a wild-growing dandelion grows, which they try to fight like a weed. Although in the USA, Italy, Great Britain, China and some other countries it is specially grown. In these countries there are huge fields where dandelions grow. There, they are carefully looked after as a useful, edible plant.

What is the root system of a dandelion? Why are they fighting this plant in Russia?

Dandelion leaves appear in the first year in the form of a rosette, and a very developed, branched one forms. It can reach 50 centimeters in length.

It is for this reason that if this happens in a summer cottage, then the gardener gets more work. Since the plant interferes with the growth of cultivated plantings. Where dandelions grow, if they are not completely eliminated, horticultural crops will die. Even if the weed is cut or dug up, it may reappear. This is due to the fact that even when slanted and dug up, the seeds can ripen and spread by the wind. In addition, the processes from the root are also capable of producing new shoots.

Gardeners, gardeners and field growers have developed a whole system of other weeds. Some field growers fight them with the help of peeling. Others use the early fall plowing method. Still others turn to the early clean fallow method. Sometimes perennial fodder grasses, such as clover, are specially planted.

Gardeners are advised to weed and cut the roots deeply in a timely manner, immediately throwing the remnants away from the garden plot.

Urban landscapers should trim the roots or reseed the entire lawn in a timely manner. In some places, the grass is simply cut regularly. In cities, dandelions are constantly mowed also because some people have allergic reactions to fluffy seeds.

Stem

In the second year, dandelion stems appear. Dandelion stem - long, hollow inside. Subsequently, a bright yellow flower appears on it, which is then inseminated. Some types of dandelions have a purple or purple flower, as well as white inflorescences with a yellow center.

The seeds are arranged in round-shaped baskets, so that the achenes take the form of a fluffy ball, which is easily blown by the wind and spreads the seeds. Dandelion is one of the few plants that can bloom for a very long time, from May until late autumn.

Why is it called medicinal? Dandelion Properties

Despite the fact that this plant is considered a weed, it also has certain benefits. No wonder the common dandelion is also called medicinal. It has long been used as a folk remedy for many ailments. But only when collecting them, you need to carefully select the place where dandelions grow. Do not pluck the plant along the roads, in the city, next to industrial facilities. It is better to do this in ecologically clean areas.

Dandelions are used for the prevention and treatment of blood diseases, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, skin diseases, as a diuretic, diuretic, antispasmodic, sedative, hypnotic and dandelion is used as a choleretic. The plant is also recommended as a treatment for chronic liver diseases.

For treatment, the roots and young leaves of dandelion, as well as flowers are used. All this is collected in May-June. Roots can be dug up both in spring and autumn. The plant is taken for medicinal purposes in the form of decoctions and infusions. Dandelion juice is used to treat skin diseases and get rid of warts. In addition, there is a very interesting recipe called "Elixir of the Sun." To do this, dandelion flowers and sugar are stacked in layers in a jar, gently pressed, squeezing out the juice. Then this juice is drunk on a teaspoon or added to tea. In some European countries, fresh dandelion flowers are simply chewed to treat diseases.

Dandelion tea: indications and contraindications

Health conscious people often use dandelion as a tea. To do this, finely ground roots and finely chopped leaves are poured with boiling water, infused for 15 minutes. Drinking this tea is recommended in the morning and evening for four to six weeks. Only in case of prolonged use can you feel the therapeutic effect. Dandelion tea is an excellent diuretic and detoxifier. It is believed that it helps to remove stones and sand from the gallbladder, but not in the acute stage.

And of course, people who have gallstones should drink dandelion tea only under the supervision of a doctor, otherwise there may be complications. Therefore, do not forget that when using dandelion inside, there are some contraindications. Dandelion should not be eaten or used as a medicine for people prone to diarrhea. In addition, it is contraindicated to be taken orally by those suffering from gastritis and stomach ulcers.

The medicine

Dandelions are used not only in folk, but also in official medicine. Extracts of this unusual plant are part of medical preparations of diuretic, choleretic properties.

Usage

As mentioned above, in some countries they are very fond of eating dandelions. In China, they are added to completely different dishes. In France, Italy, America, dandelions are a delicacy from which salads are made, and in Great Britain they are even made into wine. During the years of military shortages in European countries, a surrogate resembling coffee was made from the roots of the plant. In some countries, syrups and even jams are made from dandelions.

In Russia, dandelion salad is consumed occasionally, only for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes. When preparing dandelion salad, the main thing is to follow a few rules. Leaves are used for food. The salad should be prepared in May or June, when the plants are still young and fresh. Dandelion leaves are finely chopped and kept in salted water for thirty minutes to remove bitterness. Then seasonings are added to the dandelion greens, it can be combined with boiled eggs or grated carrots. The old plant is not suitable for food.

The roots of some dandelions contain rubber. In the USA, the plant is cultivated specifically for the purpose of extracting it and making cheap rubber. How possible is this and how much raw material is needed for this? These questions are still at the stage of study.